Dodgers Interview: Roberts Praises Dustin May’s Dominant Start
“He Was Really Good Tonight”
LOS ANGELES — After a shaky outing in Kansas City, Dustin May returned to the mound Thursday night at Dodger Stadium with something to prove—and according to manager Dave Roberts, the big righty delivered in every way.
May pitched seven strong innings against the White Sox, taking a perfect game into the sixth and allowing just four hits, two runs, and one walk while striking out nine. He was as sharp as we’ve seen him all season, and the Dodgers rode his brilliance to a 6–2 win.
“Really Fantastic Outing”
Roberts, speaking after the game, didn’t hold back in his praise: “He was really good. It was great to see him bounce back from that game in Kansas City. The delivery was fantastic, pitch execution was there, and he was very efficient. I thought he earned the opportunity to go into the eighth.”
It was indeed a stark contrast from May’s previous start, in which he struggled to locate his fastball and couldn’t escape the third inning. Thursday night, though, May looked like the ace the Dodgers always hoped he’d become. He filled up the strike zone, worked quickly, and got ahead of hitters with command and confidence.
Roberts also gave credit to rookie catcher Dalton Rushing for helping guide May through the outing. “Dalton did a fantastic job with the fingers—receiving, calling the game—the battery was really good tonight,” Roberts said.
Pulled After a Homer—but Not Before Making a Statement
May’s only blemish came in the eighth, when he gave up a two-run homer to Brooks Baldwin. Even then, Roberts didn’t view it as a misstep, but rather a learning moment.
“He had Baldwin 0–2 and just couldn’t put him away,” Roberts said. “He gets emotional out there, like all great competitors. He expects perfection—and that’s a hard thing to obtain. I hope the homer didn’t spoil what was otherwise a fantastic outing.”
A Steadying Force in a Shifting Rotation
With the Dodgers’ rotation reshaped by injuries and inconsistencies, May’s emergence as a dependable workhorse has been critical. Roberts acknowledged how important his recent stability has been.
“He’s probably been our most dependable guy in terms of giving us length,” Roberts said. “Every time he goes out there, we feel like we have a chance to win. There’s a lot of value in that for our club.”
He added that while not every outing will be as dominant, May’s ability to manage his emotions and work deeper into games is what the Dodgers have needed: “He just looks comfortable out there. It doesn’t even feel like he missed 18 months. He’s in a rhythm right now.”
Did It Feel Like a No-Hitter in the Making?
Following Wednesday night’s no-hit buzz around Clayton Kershaw’s 3,000th strikeout, Roberts was asked whether May’s start carried a similar atmosphere early on.
“I thought it was plausible,” Roberts said. “He had the pitch count under control, the defense made a few nice plays behind him—Freddie had a diving catch, Conforto made a good one in left. So yeah, I was pulling for him.”
Signs of Life in the Lineup, Too
Roberts also touched on the offensive side of things, praising the performances of Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts.
“Freddie going line-to-line tonight—pulling a cutter in for a double, then staying back on a breaking ball and shooting it the other way—that was a great sign,” Roberts said. “And Mookie had a couple of rough at-bats early but then got to a splitter and hit it out. I think he’ll sleep well tonight.”
As for Michael Conforto, who homered for the seventh time this season, Roberts said the difference has been fastball timing: “He’s getting to the fastball now. Earlier this year, he was getting beat by it. But now he’s catching up, and the swing is shorter.”
Looking Ahead
The Dodgers now turn their attention to a big weekend series against the Astros, with a little momentum finally building from both the mound and the plate.
For Roberts, May’s start couldn’t have come at a better time.
“The rotation has started to stabilize,” Roberts said. “And Dustin’s right at the heart of that.”
From your lips, Doc…
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